by Sam Amick, USA TODAY Sports

by Sam Amick, USA TODAY Sports

Nothing like a run-left, shoot-right, double-pump game-winner from the corner to make a team forget all that ails it.

J.R. Smith did just that Wednesday night for the New York Knicks, defeating and demoralizing the Phoenix Suns and their stunned, silent fans at US Airways Arena. The list of things temporarily forgotten while the Knicks rushed Smith and hugged him like he'd been gone for months: Three losses in five games coming in, the absence of Carmelo Anthony (hyperextended knee, day to day) to close out games such as these, and the fact that point guard Raymond Felton (fractured finger) may actually be gone for months (or at least four to six weeks) with his injury.

The erratic Smith as a steady Knicks savior? No one could have seen that coming - except Mark Warkentien.

The Knicks' director of player personnel surely was smiling somewhere when Smith's shot went down, his dogged recruiting that led to Smith re-signing last July paying off yet again in a most fantastic form. Before Warkentien had gone on to be named executive of the year during his days as Denver Nuggets general manager and before he was hired by the Knicks in Feb. 2011 in large part so he could help bring his former Nuggets star, Anthony, to the Garden via sign-and-trade, Warkentien was once the lead recruiter for Jerry Tarkanian at UNLV. He had done this courting dance many times before.

So while most of the NBA world expected Smith to sign with the Clippers as a free agent last February, Warkentien - who knew the complicated, occasionally-controversial, always-talented Smith as well as anyone in the league because of their shared Nuggets past and knew what it meant to him to feel supported - went to work making sure that Smith wouldn't wind up with Chris Paul and his Clippers after leaving the team he had played for in China during the lockout and (because of contractual obligations) after it had ended. Smith, who told the story to USA TODAY Sports this week, stepped off his plane from China at LAX in mid-February and was surprised to see Warkentien waiting for him at the gate.

Warkentien traveled great lengths to get there. He headed for Las Vegas from Barstow, Calif. by car, but was then told Smith would be landing in Los Angeles. He then rerouted to LAX. Meeting Smith at the baggage claim wouldn't send a strong enough message, he thought, so he bought an international ticket that allowed him to get through the security gate and ensure that his face was the first one Smith would see on American soil. By that night, Smith and Warkentien were boarding a Las Vegas-bound plane together and later inking a deal through the end of the season. Smith would re-sign again in the summer, picking the Knicks over the Clippers once again and agreeing to a deal that is paying him $2.8 million this season and has a player option for next.

"It was really between the Clippers and New York, and then once (Warkentien) met me at the gate unexpectedly it kind of sealed the deal," Smith said. "I was talking to him throughout the process, and that was his first question when I got off the plane was (about the Clippers).

"I think I made the right decision, and I think he did everything it took to get me here. It made me feel loved, made me feel wanted, and that's the biggest thing â?? being able to feel wanted somewhere is without a doubt the best thing. He's a hell of a recruiter. He was like that at UNLV, so he's a great dude. Mark and I have a great relationship. He did everything in his power to get me here, and he got me here."

Warkentien declined to comment for this story, though he offered a hearty chuckle before doing so when asked about the subplot to the Smith signing. Smith has done much more than just hit a few game-winners this season, as he's averaging a career-high 15.7 points per game in his Sixth Man role after scoring at a 12.5 points per pace last season.

Because his production far outweighs his pay, Smith is almost-certainly going to opt out of his deal this summer and have a free agency decision to make yet again. While he offered no promises, he made it clear that staying with the Knicks is his preference.

"Honestly, I don't even know," he said. "Right now, I'm just trying to play it out and do the best I can throughout this year and hopefully I'll be back here. That's my plan. I don't want to play anywhere else. I love it here."

Catching up with â?¦ Andre Miller

Quick, what team is Andre Miller playing for these days? Yes, he's still playing. And, yes, he's still in Denver. Most casual NBA fans probably thought he retired.

Such is life for the 36-year-old Miller, one of the most under appreciated and overachieving players to ever don an NBA jersey. Yet after re-signing with the Nuggets on a three-year deal worth $14.6 million ($12 million guaranteed), Miller finds himself on the verge of the sort of statistical milestones that are impossible to ignore.

As Adrian Dater of the Denver Post wrote recently, these may even be Hall of Fame-worthy numbers. With 32 more points, Miller will become one of 126 players ever to reach the 15,000-point mark. Yet it's his assist numbers (10th all time at 7,632) and durability (three games missed because of injury in 14 seasons) that tell his tale - one that's not told nearly often enough.

But while elderly contemporaries like the Knicks' Jason Kidd and the Los Angeles Lakers' Steve Nash have their respective teams relying heavily on them at this late stage of their careers, Miller is making the best of his backup situation with the Nuggets while playing behind 25-year-old Ty Lawson (who signed a four-year, $48 million extension on Oct. 31).

Miller, who was taken eighth overall by Cleveland out of Utah back in 1999, is on pace to set career lows in minutes (24.8 per game), points (8.6), and assists (5.3). I caught up with him recently to discuss his career and the possibility that he could be considered for the Hall.

Q: So beyond the fact that you're easily one of the most under appreciated guys we've ever had in this game, I wondered how you saw the idea that you could be a Hall of Famer. How do you see it?

A: "For the most part, I think you hit it right (about his career). It's just being unappreciated, disrespected. There's a lot of words I could point at. But I think everywhere I've played, when you describe what an NBA player, what a superstar is, I think it's a player that makes people around him better, makes the team better. I think pretty much everywhere I've been, I've helped guys get better. I've helped guys get big contracts, and statistically I think the durability and everything playing into it, being able to play at a high level and only miss three or four games throughout my career is deserving (of Hall of Fame). Three or four games in 14 years, and I think I can still play at a high level worthy of being a starter in this league. This is the position I'm in with this team, but I think sometimes I can take it a little bit more personal. But when I look at my efficiency throughout the years, I think I've been pretty efficient in plus-minus and everything. You look at me in the regular season and the playoffs, everything has improved. The team has improved that I've been on. But I'll worry about all that stuff after (his career ends). But I think I've had a pretty good career for a point guard."

Q: I was pretty surprised when you re-signed with the Nuggets, mainly because it seemed like you'd want to go be a starter somewhere again. What went into that decision?

A: "Um, it happened so fast. You know, I had my first surgery (during last season), had a torn rotator cuff and didn't even know it was torn. It happened so fast, and now I'm at the point where I want to be able to see my kids grow. You know, I have a little baby now and that was a factor as far as having some stability and not having to live in a hotel. I kind of made that decision. I kind of put my ego in check as far as not worrying about being a starter and all that type of stuff, just see how I'm going to be able to contribute in my role. That was something I had to put in check."

Q: It's one thing to make that decision in July. But as we sit here in December, how are you feeling about it now?

A: "I mean things happen for a reason, so I can't control the decisions that management makes as far as how they want to build the team and how they want to do things. Maybe after basketball, or even while I'm playing, to be able to learn how teams make those decisions, I can't worry about it. I just have to go out there and do my job the best I can."

Q: Are you being used anywhere close to the way you thought you would be?

A: "I could do a lot more. I can do way much more. I've proven that I'm durable and can still play a high volume of minutes, but that's not my role on this team. My role is to bring energy off the bench, and I think our bench is one of the better benches in the league. Me being in that position, that's the pride that I take in coming off the bench to be able to have one of the better benches in the league."

Q: Talk to me about the durability. What kind of advice do you have for players who can only hope to stay as healthy as you have?

A: "I think just sticking to a routine. I don't do anything way out, don't burn myself out in the summer. I pay attention to my body as much as I can the right way, the only way I know how to. I'm a basketball geek, and I know when to slow down and when to pick it up.

"I like playing basketball, so it doesn't matter if I'm playing with some friends in a 6-foot-2 and under league or wherever I can find a game of pickup. It doesn't matter who I'm playing with."

Q: You still having fun?

A: Yeah, I'm having fun. Obviously things are changing as far as the politics and the business part of it. That kind of leaves a sour taste in your mouth how the business is run now versus when I first came in the league.

Q: What do you mean by that?

A: I think nowadays management of teams have to see what the young guys can do. When I came in, you had to prove yourself in order to get on the court. Nowadays it's pretty much handed to you, like 'Hey, we've got to see what you can do. We put this investment in there, and regardless we've got to see what you can do.' And then you go from there. I don't think you have to prove yourself as much anymore. That's part of the business that I probably want to learn about in the future.

Q: You thinking about a front office career down the line?

A: Not yet. It's something that I just want to get an understanding of. It's an option to leave that door open. We'll see how that plays out.

Personal Power Rankings

My top five teams:

Los Angeles Clippers (22-6): Chris Paul & Co. bypassed the Thunder here after pushing their franchise-record winning streak to 14 games. They're doing more than just winning, though, as the average margin of defeat during the streak is 15.4 points.

Miami Heat (20-6): It's a six-game winning streak and eight of the past nine for the Heat, who symbolically defended their throne by downing former Finals foe, Oklahoma City, in a Christmas Day rematch (103-97). An underwhelming three-game road trip awaits in Detroit, Milwaukee, and Orlando.

Oklahoma City Thunder (21-6): The 12-game winning streak came to an end against Minnesota on Dec. 20, followed by the loss to the Heat on Tuesday. Games against Dallas, at Houston, and home against Phoenix round out the month.

New York Knicks (21-8): Behold a fork in the road for the Knicks, who will have plenty of adversity ahead with Felton out and Anthony nursing the bum knee. A get-well game at Sacramento awaits on Friday, followed by home games against Portland and San Antonio.

San Antonio (22-8): Wins vs. New Orleans, Dallas and Toronto were enough to get the Spurs back in this mix. The return of second-year small forward Kawhi Leonard coincided with the latest success as he came back after missing a month with a knee injury. San Antonio hosts Houston, plays at Dallas, and hosts Brooklyn before the month is over.

MVP Pulse

Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City: He lost the showdown with Miami's LeBron James, but it's tough to nitpick when a guy goes for 33 points (11 of 21 shooting), seven rebounds and three assists against the defending champs. James had 29 points, nine assists and eight rebounds, meaning he not only won the game but did so while winning the individual battle with Durant. This race is getting closer again. Stats for this season here.

LeBron James, Miami: James, who is the only player averaging at least 20 points, five rebounds and five assists, has just one triple-double thus far but has been flirting with more. He had 27 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists in Wednesday's win at Charlotte, 29 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists against the Thunder in the game prior, and 30 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists in a win over Utah before that. Stats for this season here.

Carmelo Anthony, New York: Collective mediocrity hurts any MVP campaign, and so it goes for Anthony at the moment. But while the Knicks have split their last six games, Anthony continues to dominate offensively: 32 points per game in the last three on 45.2 percent shooting overall. He hit just 7 of 23 three-pointers (30.4 percent) in that stretch, though, which officially makes this something to keep an eye on. Anthony's much-improved shooting from beyond the arc (from 33.5 percent last season to 43.4 this season) has had everything to do with Anthony's increased impact in 2012-13. Stats for this season here.

Chris Paul, Clippers: Paul just keeps waving his wand and making magic happen for all of his teammates during this incredible streak. He has finished with double-digit assists in five of the last seven games (averaging 10.9 in that span), not to mention having two five-steal games recently (he leads the league at 2.71 per game). Stats for this season here.

Tim Duncan, San Antonio: It was a relatively-quiet week for Duncan, who averaged 15 points, seven rebounds, two blocks and just 27.3 minutes in three games since last we met here. Still, Duncan has always been about winning and that's exactly what the Spurs did all three times out. Stats for this season here.

Rookie Watch

My top 3:

Damian Lillard, Portland PG: Lillard had one bad game out of four since last week, when he hit just 3 of 14 shots in a win vs. Denver on Dec. 20 while tallying 10 assists. Otherwise? He averaged 19 points (48.7 percent) and 8.3 assists in a win vs. Phoenix, a loss at Sacramento and a win vs. Sacramento at home. Stats for this season here.

Anthony Davis, New Orleans F: The Hornets broke their nine-game losing streak vs. Orlando on Wednesday, so they finally had something to celebrate other than Davis' steady play. He averaged 13.3 points in three games last week, but his 46.3 percent accuracy (or lack thereof) from the field is too low for a big man like Davis. He averaged 10 rebounds in those games as well. Stats for this season here.

Andre Drummond, Detroit C: Toronto big man Jonas Valanciunas held this spot last week, but he's out four to six weeks after suffering a broken ring finger on his right hand. Drummond is a more-than-worthy replacement, as he has come on strong of late while earning the trust of coach Lawrence Frank. Drummond, who was taken ninth out of Connecticut and whose raw skills scared away some executives who ignored his tremendous upside, had 16 points, 12 rebounds and two steals in a double-overtime loss to Atlanta on Wednesday. He is averaging 6.9 points, seven rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game this season. Stats for this season here.

Read the NBA A-Z insider column from USA TODAY Sports' Amick and Jeff Zillgitt at nba.usatoday.com. Send the guys feedback and ideas to @sam_amick and @JeffZillgitt.